Do you ever write under a pseudonym? If not have you considered it? Why or why not?

No, I never have written under a pseudonym. But having said that I decided to make my author name M J Mallon rather than Marjorie Mallon. I liked the MJ part of it – it reminded me of spider man’s Mary Jane!

Does a big ego help or hurt writers? Why or why not?

I don’t have a big ego. If anything, I’m taming my ego with Tai Chi! Lol. So it’s difficult to say whether it helps or hurts writers. I write because I love to. For me, it’s for the love rather than the fame. Lol. But, of course it is wonderful to receive positive reviews and feedback from people who enjoy my books. That is the best most amazing feeling.

What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?

I haven’t made much money yet as a writer. I published my kindle book The Curse of Time – Book 1 – Bloodstone at the end of August this year. The paperback will hopefully be coming out before Christmas. Recently, I made a nice little unexpected amount from blogging and I spent this on an intended trip up to Scotland to see my parents, and my extended family after Christmas.

What does writing success look like to you? Have you achieved it?

Recently, I received two five star and a four star review. It was such a great feeling. It’s a bit early days for a long list of my successes – only time will tell!

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book? What sources do you use?

I research as I go along. My main focuses were: the Corpus Christ Chronopage clock on King’s Parade in Cambridge. (Just recently I met the inventor of the clock – Dr John C Taylor, OBE and that was just amazing.) I also researched about crystals and their properties. And Greek myths, and shadows! Google helped a lot!

How do you select the names of your characters? Have you ever regretted choosing a particular name? Why?

My youngest daughter Georgina came up with some of the names. I changed the name of the dog in my book as I originally called him Clarence but that’s the name of one of my friend’s sons so the doggie became Toby! I think he suits it better. Other than that I love all of my characters’ names.

What is the hardest type of scene to write?

I don’t find it difficult to write scenes. I never seem to suffer from writer’s block. My one flaw is I am terrible at plotting so I end up doing a huge amount of editing and moving scenes around which isn’t the best idea!

If you could have dinner with four people, living or dead, who would they be and what would you want to ask them?

I’d love to meet David Bowie, love his music. Oscar Wilde as well, I’d love to talk to him about Dorian Gray. J K Rowling as I love Harry Potter! Oh, and somebody terribly handsome like the lead singer of Steriophonics, Kelly Jones!

What platform has brought you the most success in marketing your books?

Bit difficult to say as I’m a new writer but my blog has been helpful in generating interest and blog tours have been a really great idea too. I have been very fortunate as so many of my fellow authors have invited me to do author spots on their blogs. Hugh at Hugh’s Views and News has featured me as his author of the month this October which has been fantastic. Other than that I suppose having my book on Amazon helps! And perhaps being a founding member of #ABRSC – Authors Bloggers Rainbow Support Club doesn’t go amiss too. I forgot to say I entered my cover in the AuthorsDB cover contest and it is currently in the semi-finals! It’s a cumulative effect, a bit of this, a bit of that, and hopefully this approach will attract readers. It takes time and patience! Other than that my marketing plan is to make everything as visually appealing as possible. With that in mind I asked Carolina Russo to create a wonderful portrait of one of my characters, Esme for me.

My alter ego is MJ – Mary Jane from Spiderman. I love superheros! I was born on the 17th of November in Lion City: Singapore, (a passionate Scorpio, with the Chinese Zodiac sign a lucky rabbit,) second child and only daughter to my proud parents Paula and Ronald. I grew up in a mountainous court in the Peak District in Hong Kong with my elder brother Donald. My parents dragged me away from my exotic childhood and my much loved dog Topsy to the frozen wastelands of Scotland. In bonnie Edinburgh I mastered Scottish country dancing, and a whole new Och Aye lingo.

As a teenager I travelled to many far-flung destinations to visit my abacus wielding wayfarer dad. It’s rumored that I now live in the Venice of Cambridge, with my six-foot hunk of a Rock God husband, and my two enchanted daughters. After such an upbringing my author’s mind has taken total leave of its senses! When I’m not writing, I eat exotic delicacies while belly dancing, or surf to the far reaches of the moon. To chill out, I practice Tai Chi. If the mood takes me I snorkel with mermaids, or sign up for idyllic holidays with the Chinese Unicorn, whose magnificent voice sings like a thousand wind chimes.

Two years have passed since Amelina Scott’s thirteenth birthday, on that fateful day her father disappears under mysterious circumstances. Saddened by this traumatic event, she pieces together details of a curse that has stricken the heart and soul of her family.

Amelina longs for someone to confide in. Her once carefree mother has become angry and despondent. One day a strange black cat and a young girl, named Esme appear. Immediately, Esme becomes the sister Amelina never had. The only catch is that Esme must remain a prisoner, living within the mirrors of Amelina’s house.

Dreams and a puzzling invitation convince Amelina the answer to her family’s troubles lies within the walls of the illusive Crystal Cottage. Undaunted by her mother’s warnings, Amelina searches for the cottage on an isolated Cambridgeshire pathway where she encounters a charismatic young man, named Ryder. At the right moment, he steps out of the shadows, rescuing her from the unwanted attention of two male troublemakers.

With the help of an enchanted paint set, Amelina meets the eccentric owner of the cottage, Leanne, who instructs her in the art of crystal magic. In time, she earns the right to use three wizard stones. The first awakens her spirit to discover a time of legends, and later, leads her to the Bloodstone, the supreme cleansing crystal which has the power to restore the balance of time. Will Amelina find the power to set her family free?

Great post and thank you so much for including my painting of Esme! I loved to create this painting and bring the character to life visually! My watercolor painting is now available as Limited Edition Fine Art Print numbered and signed, anyone interested can find it on my Blog or contact me! I loved to collaborate with Marjorie she is great! Thank you!

Don, a terrific interview and I enjoy your sweeping range of questions which draws out the writer and person! Marje, oh, how I identify with your first answer – I hadn’t realised how much easier writing was than when I started a thorough edit this autumn…truly exhausting and I’ve never had so many migraines in my life! MJ sounds great and congratulations on earning some money through your blogging…that’s fantastic – Have a great trip to Scotland! Lovely to learn so much more about you! PS> Good luck with your paperback and wow! Wonderful review ratings – I’m keen to read your book in the New Year! 😀❤️